The fate of upcoming NBA games in the city has come under scrutiny as wildfires continue to burn through areas of Los Angeles County. Notably, last week, due to the fires, the Lakers games against the Hornets and Spurs were postponed, as was the Clippers game against the Hornets. Currently, on a road trip along the West Coast, the Miami Heat will play the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday. Meanwhile, they will play against the Los Angeles Lakers in a highly anticipated game on Wednesday. NBA officials have announced that the Heat’s games versus the Clippers and Lakers are “not postponed,” per a source from Miami Heat reporter Anthony Craig.
Heat’s Games in LA Not Postponed Amid Tragic Fires
The expectation is the Heat's games in LA this week (vs. Clippers on Monday and vs. Lakers on Wednesday) will be played as scheduled.
— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) January 12, 2025
Keeping Everyone Safe
The people of LA, here is some good news. The flames have yet to touch down downtown Los Angeles and the local area around Crypto.com Arena. However, the flames have burned thousands of acres and prompted civilians to evacuate the affected areas. Concerns for athletes, employees, and fans are calmed through local authorities’ assurances that the city’s air quality is safe for indoor athletic events. As is customary, the Miami Heat, who are enjoying a decent start to the season, have prepared for their next games.
Erik Spoelstra, the head coach, voiced his thoughts on the devastation that is happening to the people in Los Angeles and the league’s decision to go with the games:
“Our hearts and prayers are for everybody that’s managing the devastation,” he said. “I can’t even imagine having an entire community gone.
“You leave and you come back and it’s gone—so many people are affected by that.”
“The game, if we can provide some inspiration and entertainment for the city, then that’s our obligation.”
In addition, the Clippers and Lakers, two postseason hopefuls, issued statements highlighting their willingness to host the games. Also, both teams expressed their sympathy for those affected:
While the Heat's two games in LA are still on the schedule, ESPN will no longer televise the Heat's matchup against the Lakers on Wednesday.
Heat-Lakers can now only be viewed on @FanDuelSN_Heat.
— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) January 12, 2025
The Show Must Go On
The Miami Heat are going through a difficult road trip, and these games come at a crucial time. The Heat’s leaders, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, have shown resilience this season against challenging opponents. The Clippers and Lakers want to defend their home court in the face of great expectations from their fan bases. Meanwhile, the Heat want to maintain their momentum.
Although Herro is not from LA, he took time to share his thoughts on the people of Los Angeles:
“My prayers are to the city, the community, everyone there that’s going through that,” he said. “That’s obviously tragic and very unfortunate for anyone in that area.”
The choice to move forward with the upcoming games gives a sense of normalcy. The city continues to ongoing obstacles as more flames pour in. As officials continue to oversee the wildfire response, NBA watchers need news reports to keep up with traffic and air quality updates. When the Miami Heat play in Los Angeles, their game will provide fans with a quick but welcome good distraction. This is a reminder of how sports can bring people together in trying times.
